Picture hanging marker

ABSTRACT

A device for marking a location of a picture on a surface comprising an elongated member having spaced opposite ends; means for hanging said picture from said member; a handle disposed at one end of said member for holding said device and picture in a desired location, said other end presenting a marking means for marking said location on said surface, a padded segment disposed adjacent said picture for inhibiting damage to said picture when marking said location on said surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for marking a location of a picture on a surface, and particularly relates to a device for marking a location of a picture frame having a cord for hanging on that wall and includes the method therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many residential and office walls are decorated with hanging pictures. Many of these hanging pictures include a hanging wire, rope or cord which is hidden from plain sight. Generally speaking, many individuals attempt to hang such pictures in a desired location or to space a plurality of picture frames from one another in a balanced manner.

However, when such individuals attempt to place these pictures in a desired location by measuring the distance of the cord from an edge of a picture frame, such measurements are generally not accurate since the picture frame either stretches the cord once hung or is generally difficult to accurately measure a final resting place of a hung picture frame. Furthermore, inaccuracies also result due to differences in the wire or rope length of similar pictures. Also, measuring a distance from the top or bottom of the picture to the position of the straightened wire yields only approximate results since the weight of the picture is not taken into account. Accordingly such processes may be tedious and cumbersome.

Accordingly, there is a need to mark the position on the wall where the nail or screw will be anchored to ensure the right resting position.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,803 relates to a bracket which is positioned on a picture frame and a vertical component adjusted so that the marking protrusion is aligned with the hooks on the back face.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,991 relates to a picture hanging marking tool having a relatively flat elongated support arm and a marking orifice at the distal end opposite a support arm handle.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,991 relates to another apparatus for marking the position of a hanging picture.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,135 relates to a picture hanger locating device for use with a picture having a hanging cord positioned on the rear thereof intended to be disposed over a hook or like member to be secured to wall behind the desired location of the picture.

Other devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,135, U.S. DES 384,252, U.S. patent application Publication no. U.S. 2004/0177527 A1. Other arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,559,690, 5,129,154, and 6,000,142.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved picture hanging device and method relating thereto.

It is an aspect of this invention to provide a device for marking the location of a picture on a surface comprising an elongated member having spaced opposite ends; means for hanging said picture from said member; handle disposed at one end of said member for holding said device and picture in the desired location; said other end presenting, a marking structure for marking said location on a surface, a padded segment disposed adjacent said picture for inhibiting damage to said picture when marking said location on said surface.

It is another aspect of this invention to provide a device for marking a location of a picture frame having a cord for hanging on a wall comprising a vertical member with two opposite ends and a picture facing surface and a wall facing surface; a handle disposed at one end for holding said device and picture frame in the desired location; a projection extending outwardly from said wall facing surface for hanging said picture frame by said cord from said projection; a padded segment disposed on said picture facing surface in line with said projection for inhibiting damage to said picture frame when said projection is pushed against said wall for marking said location.

It is an aspect of this invention to also provide a method of marking the location of a nail for hanging a picture from a cord on the wall comprising suspending said picture by said cord from a projection extending outwardly from a lower end of a vertical member; moving said suspended picture to a desired location by moving a handle extending from the upper end of the vertical member; transferring force through said picture to a padded segment disposed in line with said projection so as to, impart a mark on said wall by said projection, and inhibit damage to said picture.

These and other objects and features of the invention shall now be described in relation to the following drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device and picture frame taken from the rear thereof.

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Like parts have like numbers throughout the description.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the device 2 for marking a location 4 of a picture 6 on a surface 8. The device 2 includes an elongated member 10 having spaced opposite ends 12 and 14. The device 2 includes means 16 for hanging the picture 6 from the elongated member 10. A handle 18 is disposed at the one end 12 of the member 10 for holding the device 2 and picture 6 in a desired location.

The other end 14 of the elongated member 10 presents a marking means 20 for marking the location 4 on the surface such as a wall 8.

A padded segment 22 is disposed adjacent the picture 6 for inhibiting damage to the picture 6 when marking the location on the surface. In other words, once the handle 2 is moved to place the picture 6 in a desired location, the picture 6 may be pressed so as to impart force to the padded segment 22 which is in line with the marking means 20 and thereby impart a mark 4 on the wall 8.

In one embodiment the padded segment 22 comprises of an enlarged segment as shown in the drawings so as to dissipate the force over the picture, while in another embodiment the padded segment 22 comprises of the deformable material such as foam or the like.

The marking means 20 comprises a point 24 as shown in FIG. 2.

In particular, the elongated member 10 can comprise, as shown in the drawings, a vertical elongated member 10 having two opposite ends 12 and 14 and a picture facing surface 30 and a wall facing surface 32.

A projection or a pin 34 extends outwardly from the wall facing surface 32 for hanging the picture frame 36 by the cord or rope 38 from the pin 34.

The padded segment 22 is disposed on the picture facing surface 30 for inhibiting damage to the picture frame 36 when the projection or a pin 34 is pushed against the wall 8 for marking the location 4.

The projection or pin 34 includes a point 24 remote from the wall facing surface 32.

The projection comprises the pin 34 having a first diameter D₁ and the point 24 having a shoulder 40 with a second diameter D₂ greater than the first diameter D₁ tapering to the point 24.

The shoulder 40 retains the cord 38 in position and prevents the cord from slipping off.

The device as shown may be comprised of a variety of materials including metal, plastic or the like.

As shown in the drawings, the cord 38 is disposed between the wall 8 and the wall facing surface 32 and due to the force of gravity tends to pull or rotate the point (i.e padded material) toward the picture causing the padded segment 22 to contact the back of the picture 6.

The padded segment 22, pin 34 and point 24 are generally coaxially disposed as shown for effective transfer of force by pushing against the picture 6 or picture frame 36 so as to impart a mark on the wall 8.

Once the device 2 is removed from the desired location the mark or point in the wall 8 will be seen and a suitable fastener such as a nail or screw may be position.

Thereafter once the picture is hung on the nail or screw the desired location will be realized as the picture 6 or picture frame 36 will tension the cord or wire 38 so as to correspond to the location when hung from the device 2.

The invention described above also relates to a method of marking the location 4 of a nail (not shown) for hanging a picture 6 from a cord 38 on the wall 8 comprising:

-   -   (a) suspending the picture 6 by said cord 38 from a projection         34 extending outwardly from a lower end 14 of a vertical member         10     -   (b) moving the suspended picture 6 to a desired location by         moving a handle 18 extending from an upper end 12 of the         vertical member 10     -   (c) transferring force through the picture to a padded segment         22 disposed in line with the projection 34 so as to:         -   (i) imparting a mark on the wall 8 by said projection         -   (ii) inhibiting damage to said picture 6

Various embodiments to the invention have now been described in detail. Since changes in and/or additions to the above described best mode may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to said details. 

1. A device for marking a location of a picture on a surface comprising: (a) an elongated member having spaced opposite ends (b) means for hanging said picture from said member (c) a handle disposed at one end of said member for holding said device and picture in a desired location (d) said other end presenting: (i) a marking means for marking said location on said surface (ii) a padded segment disposed adjacent said picture for inhibiting damage to said picture when marking said location on said surface.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said marking means comprises a point for imparting a mark on said surface.
 3. A devise as claimed in claim 2 wherein some hanging means comprises a pin extending from said member.
 4. A devise as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pin presents said point.
 5. A devise as claimed in claim 4 wherein said padded segment is in line with said rod.
 6. A devise as claimed in claim 5 wherein said padded segment is adapted to transfer force to said pin and point so as to impart a mark on said surface and to minimize damage to said picture.
 7. A devise for marking a location of a picture frame having a cord for hanging on a wall comprising: (a) a vertical member with two opposite ends and a picture facing surface and a wall facing surface (b) a handle disposed at said one end for holding said device and picture frame in a desired location (c) a projection extending outwardly from said wall facing surface for hanging said picture frame by said cord from said projection (d) a padded segment disposed on said picture facing surface in line with said projection for inhibiting damage to said picture frame when said projection is pushed against said wall for marking said location
 8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said projection includes a point remote from said wall facing surface.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said projection comprises a pin having a first diameter and said point has a shoulder having a second diameter greater than said first diameter tapering to said point.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said shoulder retains said cord in position.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said device is comprised of plastic.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said padded segment comprises an enlarged segment for dissipating the force over a larger area.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said padded segment comprises of a deformable material.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said deformable material comprises foam.
 15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said cord is adapted to be disposed between said wall and wall facing surface and pulls said padded segment against said picture.
 16. A method of marking the location of a nail for hanging a picture from a cord on a wall comprising: (a) suspending said picture by said cord from a projection extending outwardly from a lower end of a vertical member (b) moving said suspended picture to a desired location by moving a handle extending from the upper end of said vertical member (c) transferring force through said picture to a padded segment disposed in line with said projection so as to: (i) impart a mark on said wall by said projection and (ii) inhibit damage to said picture.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said force is transferred coaxially through said padded segment and projection.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 with marking by a sharp point presented by said projection. 